EP0026784A1 - Apparat und verfahren zum auftauen von in gondel-containern gelagerten materialien - Google Patents

Apparat und verfahren zum auftauen von in gondel-containern gelagerten materialien

Info

Publication number
EP0026784A1
EP0026784A1 EP80900815A EP80900815A EP0026784A1 EP 0026784 A1 EP0026784 A1 EP 0026784A1 EP 80900815 A EP80900815 A EP 80900815A EP 80900815 A EP80900815 A EP 80900815A EP 0026784 A1 EP0026784 A1 EP 0026784A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hood
container
microwave
shielding
gondola
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP80900815A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Deryck Brandon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0026784A1 publication Critical patent/EP0026784A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01MCATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/22Killing insects by electric means
    • A01M1/226Killing insects by electric means by using waves, fields or rays, e.g. sound waves, microwaves, electric waves, magnetic fields, light rays
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26DRYING
    • F26BDRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B25/00Details of general application not covered by group F26B21/00 or F26B23/00
    • F26B25/06Chambers, containers, or receptacles
    • F26B25/066Movable chambers, e.g. collapsible, demountable
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26DRYING
    • F26BDRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B3/00Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
    • F26B3/32Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action
    • F26B3/34Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action by using electrical effects
    • F26B3/347Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/80Apparatus for specific applications
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01MCATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M2200/00Kind of animal
    • A01M2200/01Insects
    • A01M2200/012Flying insects

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus and method for thawing materials carried in containers such as gondola rail cars, trucks and the like, and more particularly to such an apparatus and method employing microwave heating techniques during the thawing operation.
  • Patent 3,800,858 achieves thawing by heating the sidewalls and bot ⁇ tom of the railcar, and the exposed upper surface of particular mat ⁇ ter contained therein, by means of infra-red generating heaters suitably positioned to radiate heat to the various surfaces. How ⁇ ever, this technique again relys on heating of the vehicular con- tainer and thus therefore suffers to some extent for the same rea ⁇ sons as discussed above.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel thaw ⁇ ing method and apparatus employing a closed but well ventilated system, resulting in safe and efficient thawing.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel thaw ⁇ ing method and apparatus employing standard hydraulics for use in mechanical positioning, by which the thawing process can be almost totally automated.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for thawing, capable of immediate application to exis ⁇ ting vehicular containers without the necessity of alteration or refurbishment of the container.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a novel method
  • OMPI and apparatus for thawing which employs short thawing cycle times, and results in decreased energy consumption.
  • Another object of this inventi * on is to provide a novel method and apparatus for thawing using microwave energy to heat and thaw materials contained in a vehicular gondola container, which is suf ⁇ ficiently versatile to accommodate containers of varying lengths.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for thawing employing plural magnetrons to produce a requisite amount of microwave energy for the heat ng and thawing of the material contained in a vehicular gondola container, and employ ⁇ ing microwave shielding to protect against radiation leakage during the thawing process.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for thawing materials, employing plural magnetrons to produce microwave energy for heating and thawing of the materials, wherein the service life of the magnetron is assured by means of appropriate cooling techniques.
  • a novel method and apparatus for thawing materials stored in a gondola-type container having an open top face which includes a shielding hood having an opened face dimensioned to match the top open face of the gondola-type container.
  • the shielding hood is lowered over the container in contact therewith to form a shield ⁇ ed microwave heating cavity in combination with the container.
  • Plural microwave radiating elements, such as magnetrons, are mounted in the shielding hood for irradiating the materials within the container with microwave energy upon contacting engagement of the respective open faces of the shielding hood and the container.
  • the shielding hood is supported from an overhead frame and pre- cisely positioned automatically over the gondola container.
  • a knitted mesh shielding having high co pressabil ty and resilience is attached around the perimeter of the open face of the shielding hood to make contact with the mating surface of the gondola container.
  • the shielding hood and the associated knitted mesh shielding is adjustable in length to accommodate gondola containers of differing lengths.
  • a major portion of the shielding hood is provided with a parabolic reflector for focusing microwave radiation more efficiently into the gondola-type container, and more particularly, the material therein contained.
  • Microwave radiating magnetrons are mounted at selected locations in the hood to assure complete heating of the material within the container.
  • At least one of these magnetrons can be mov ⁇ able within the hood for the purpose of scanning the gondola-type container during the heating process.
  • Each of the microwave radi- ating magnetrons is, however, adequately cooled to assure optimum performance and an acceptable operation life for the magnetrons, in spite of the high radiation level produced by the magnetrons.
  • the invention envisions the use of a totally enclosed metal building to surround the gondola-type container and the shielding hood, with a grounding grid connecting the building to the earth through RF traps. Additionally, a water pool is maintained within the metal building beneath the gondola container to absorb any possible stray microwave leakage. Additionally, means are provided for evacuating any gas ⁇ eous products which may be formed in the microwave cavity formed by the shielding hood and the gondola-type container during heating of the contents of the container.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention in relation to a gondola-type rail car containing material to be heated;
  • FIGURES 2a and 2b are schematic plan views of left and right halves of the shielding hood of the invention, respectively;
  • FIGURES 3a and 3b are schematic sectional side views of the shielding hood of the invention, taken along lines 3a-3a and 3b-3b, respectively, of Figures 2a and 2b, respectively;
  • FIGURE 4 is a schematic sectional end view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2a, illustrating the shielding hood of the invention in relation to the gondola-type rail car, and further illustrating the safety provisions of the invention;
  • FIGURE 5 is a schematic plan view of a brush roller frame and assembly used in preparing the top rail or flange of the gondola- type container prior to initiation of the heating process;
  • FIGURE 6 is a detailed schematic plan view of a particular one of the brush carriages shown in Figure 5;
  • FIGURE 7 is a schematic sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 shown in Figure 5;
  • FIGURE 8a is an illustration of selected magnetron details
  • FIGURE 8b is a block diagram of DC power circuits for use with a series-connected electromagnet in applying power to any one of the magnetrons mounted in the shielded hood of the invention
  • FIGURE 9 is a block diagram of a liquid regeneration loop used in cooling of the magnetrons of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown in perspective view the shielding hood 10 of the invention in relation ⁇ ship to a gondola-type rail car 12.
  • the hood 10 is shown suspended from a hood carrier frame 14 which is connected to a plurality of hydraulically operated verticle positioning cylinders 16 which are ultimately attached to the building frame (not shown) of the build ⁇ ing within which the microwave thawing operation takes place.
  • Shown within the rail car 12 is a material 18 which is to be heated as a result of the application of microwave energy thereto, as generated by a plurality of microwave energy radiating elements, magnetrons 20, spaced along the length of the hood 10 and mounted thereon.
  • a. total of three magnetrons 20 are mounted in the shielding hood 10, with two magnetrons 20a fixedly located at either end of the hood 10, and a third magnetron 20b mov- able laterally along the longitudinal axis of the hood 10 in a middle portion thereof.
  • a slot 22 is formed in the hood 10 along the travel path of the magnetron 20b such that the radiating element of the magnetron 20b communicates with the interior of the hood 10.
  • the mov- able magnetron 20b is transported along the length of the hood, there ⁇ by assuring microwave radiation of all the material 18 contained in the car 12.
  • a plurality of stationary magnetrons 20a can be provided along the entire length of the hood 10.
  • the traveling magnetron 20b is mounted in a slatted rolling cover 24, the individual slats of which are made of steel.
  • the cover 24, . provided with a carriage 26 on which the magnetron 20b is mounted, • is rolled onto, and off of, a pair of cylindrical hooded drums 28, 30, depending upon the direction of motion of the magnetron 20b.
  • Drive motors 32 and 34 are respectively coupled to hooded drums 28 and 30 to initiate the rolling of the slatted cover 28 and the re ⁇ sulting travel of the carriage 26 having the magnetron 20b mounted thereon.
  • the shielding hood 10 is provided with a plurality of air inlet grills 36 at predetermined points, and a centrally located hood exhaust grill 38 which communicates with an exhaust plenum 40 via a flexible duct 42.
  • Each of the air inlet grills 38 and the exhaust plenum 40 is provided with steel mesh shielding to minimize microwave radiational leakage therethrough.
  • a belt driven axial exhaust fan 44 is located in the exhaust plenum 40, by which gasses released by the material being thawed are ex ⁇ hausted from the microwave cavity formed by the shielding hood 10 and the rail car 12.
  • a methane detector 46 is built into the ex ⁇ haust duct 42 for detecting the presence of methane, and for shutting
  • the interior of at least a central portion of the hood 10 is pro ⁇ vided with a parabolic reflector 48 to facilitate energy distribution and even thawing of the material 18 in the car 12. Additionally, the hood 10 is provided with a knitted mesh shielding 52 attached to the perimeter of the open face 50 of the hood 10. The hood peripheral shielding 52 is designed to make contact with the mating peripheral top surface 54 of the container car 12 during the ⁇ thawing process.
  • Shielding 52 is constructed of a metal alloy, such as a corrosive resistant alloy sold under the trademark Monel, which is an alloy of predominantly nickel and copper and very small percentages of carbon, manganese, iron, sulfur and silicon, sometimes also containing small percentages of aluminum, titanium and cobalt, or an alloy sold under the trademark Ferex, which is made of tin plated copper cladded steel wires, or other acceptable materials.
  • Monel a corrosive resistant alloy sold under the trademark Monel
  • Ferex an alloy sold under the trademark Ferex, which is made of tin plated copper cladded steel wires, or other acceptable materials.
  • the shielding hood 10 is provided with telescoping end portions 56 and 58 which are extendable to ac ⁇ commodate container cars of varying lengths, usually between 38 and 50 feet.
  • hydraulically operated hood extension cylinders 60 are connected to the hood end portions 56 and 58 for adjusting the length of the shielding hood 10 to precisely accommodate the length of a particular container car.
  • the para ⁇ bolic reflector 48 for simplicity's sake is retained within the cen- tral portion of the shielding hood 10, and not within the extendable end portions 56, 58.
  • the parabolic reflector 48 can likewise be designed to be extendable along with the end portions 56, 58. It is noted ' that while the shielding hood 10 of the invention is defined in terms of longitudinal extension, to accommodate container cars 12 of different lengths, it is not typically required to vary the width of the shielding hood 10, since most container cars have a common predetermined width. Nevertheless, a shielding hood 10 of the in ⁇ vention can easily be implemented such that the width thereof is variable, in the event that the apparatus of the invention is to be used in conjunction with container cars 12 of different widths.
  • the microwave radiation devices 20 are fixed-tuned, electromag- netically focused, liquid-cooled, ceramic-metal magnetrons capable of generating useful continuous RF power, at an output of as much as 30 kilowatts, at very high efficiency, depending upon the parti ⁇ cular application.
  • Typical maximum ratings of the magnetrons 20 considered for the disclosed thawing operation are now summarized as follows:
  • Such magnetrons are commercially available from Toshiba Corporation.
  • the top rail or sur ⁇ face 54 of the container car 12 must be clean of all paint, rust, mill scale or other foreign material.
  • the present invention incorporates an automatic cleaning operation of the top rail 54 prior to the en ⁇ gagement of the shielding hood 10 with the car 12.
  • an automatic wire brush operation control ⁇ led by a dedicated microcontroller (not shown) is interfaced with a ' master microprocessor module 61, which otherwise also controls the entire thawing operation.
  • the rail cleaner shown schematically in Figures 5-7, includes an overhead structured steel frame support 62 on vertical hydraulic cylinders (not shown). Initially, the car is propelled conventionally into position in the cleaning area. As the car enters the cleaning area the length of the car is automatically detected, using conventional UV beam technology interfaced with the master microprocessor module 61 lo ⁇ cated in a main control room. To provide the required cleaning, at least four cleaning brush assemblies 66 are mounted on the ends and the sides of the frame 62. Upon determination of car length, the cleaner assemblies 66 located at the ends of the frame 62 are appropriately positioned by means of hydraulic cylinders 68 under the control of car limit sensors 70, and the cleaning frame 62 is then hydraulically lowered by means of the vertical hydraulic cylinder to car top rail 54.
  • Each cleaning brush assembly 66 includes a wire brush 74 acti ⁇ vated by means of a constant displacement, vane type hydraulic motor 76.
  • the wire brushes 74 are isotemp straight wire twisted to provide tufts for high impact and long brush life.
  • the brushes 74 are mounted on a motor shaft extension of the motor 76 which is skewed approxi- mately 5° with the perpendicular axis of travel to provide additional scrubbing action.
  • Each hydraulic motor 76 is attached to an eight wheeled carriage 78, which is movable on an "I" beam 80 associated with the frame 62.
  • Each carriage -78 is moved horizontally along the car rail surface 54 by means of a link chain 82 driven by an elec- trically operated speed reducer 84.
  • a link chain 82 and the speed reducer 84 are sprockets 86 by which the link chain is driven.
  • two cleaning passes are made by each brush assembly 66, with the direction of the carriage 78 on which is mounted the brush 74 being reversed upon the reaching of the carriage 78 to a drive sprocket.
  • the travel of the brushes 74 is controlled in order to avoid conflict between the various brushes at common • point of travel, and brush pressure against the surface 54 is further more controlled by a pneumatic cylinder 88 under the control of the microprocessor module 61.
  • the cleaning frame 62 is raised under the control of the dedicated microcontroller, and the surface is visually inspected. If the sur ⁇ face preparation of the car top rail is satisfactory, the operator presses the button which signals the microprocessor that the cleaning operation has been completed, and that the car is ready for the thaw ⁇ ing sequence.
  • the car 12 After completion of the cleaning process, the car 12 is there ⁇ after precisely positioned in the vicinity of, and beneath, the shielding hood 10 by conventional pressure transducers and/or optical detectors (not shown) within a steel plated shielding building 90.
  • the building 90 is scanned by means of a low power laser which emits beams to associated mirrors, beam splitters, reflector trihedral prisms and retro-reflectors to an emission detector (not shown) to detect the presence of any per ⁇ sonnel within the building 90. Should beam continuity from the laser to the emission detector not be obtained, the microprocessor module 61 provides an audial and visual warning and operation is halted. Thereafter it is necessary to manually reactivate the sequence, where upon the building 90 is again scanned to detect the presence of per ⁇ sonnel . Once a safe condition is indicated, i.e.
  • the shielding hood 10 is hydrauli- cally positioned over the top rail 54 of the car 12 by limit sensors 92 placed around the periphery of the hood 10 to terminate hood tra- vel and ensure proper contact pressure between the hood peripheral shielding 52 and the car 12.
  • the floor of the building 90 underneath the positioned container 12 is constructed of carbon steel plate and includes a pan 94, or containment vessel, to hold water released from the bottom of the car 12 during the thawing operation.
  • This containment vessel shall have a controlled discharge to regulate and maintain the water levels contained therein, such that this water absorbs any stray radiation leakage from the edges of the dumping doors which are normally provided on the bottom of a conventional rail car 12.
  • the sides of the containment vessel 94 are continuously grounded to the metal building 90, while the area of the building 90 containing the hood 10, the magnetrons 20, and magnetron power sup ⁇ plies shall be constructed of a totally enclosed structure 90 with appropriate shielding precisely placed to provide maximum shielding and integrity while maintaining rigid mechanical tolerances.
  • the building 90 is essentially an RF enclosure.
  • a grounding grid 96 is constructed adjacent to the building to provide maximum reduction of (ENI-RFI) radiation generated within the build ⁇ ing.
  • the grounding grid 96 is connected to the building through se- lective RF traps 98 to attain maximum attenuation of specific fre ⁇ quencies generated within the building.
  • plural RF de ⁇ tectors 99 under the control of the microprocessor 61, are disposed exterior to the building 91 to detect residual radiation leakage, if any. Thus, if predetermined leakage limits are exceeded, the RF de- tectors 99 signal this fact to the microprocessor, and energization of the magnetrons 20 is then curtailed.
  • the grounding grid 96, the RF traps 98, and the RF detectors 99 are of conventional design.
  • electro agnetically focused magnetrons 20 are used as the microwave radiating elements. Selected magnetron de- tails are schematically shown in Figure 8a, while Figure 8b illus ⁇ trates the electrical connection of DC power circuits to a magnetron 20.
  • the magnetron is seen to include a cooling jacket 100 having input and output cooling fluid l nes 102 and 104, respect ⁇ ively.
  • the magnetron cooling scheme employed by the invention normally uses water as the cooling fluid.
  • the cooling jacket 100 is located in the vicinity of the anode 106 from which the magnetron delivers a microwave output to the oscillating wave guide and horn 108 shown in Figure 8a.
  • the magnetron also includes an anode air- preheating input 107, connected to a conventional heater (not shown), by which the magnetron anode 106 is preheated during magnetron start ⁇ up.
  • the magnetron anode 106, and a magnetron cathode-filament terminal 110 are connected in series with an elec- tromagnet coil 112, and undercurrent relay 114 which prevents ⁇ - 1 mode operation, which in turn is connected to a DC anode power sup ⁇ ply 116.
  • a transient voltage limiter 118 and a variable DC electromagnet power supply 120 Connected in parallel to the coil 112 and the relay 114 is a transient voltage limiter 118 and a variable DC electromagnet power supply 120.
  • the positioning, mounting, and securing of the magnetrons 20 vary depending upon the specific magnetron employed. For these details, therefore, reference must be made to the manufacturer's published data. Nevertheless, provisions should be made to avoid subjecting the magnetron to appreciable shock or vibration during handling and operation thereof.
  • high power magnetron tubes employ low-voltage high- current filaments or heaters coupled to the cathode structure of the tube. It is therefore recommended that electrical connections be ⁇ tween the heaters and the cathode filaments be kept short to minimize voltage drop. Once again, however, manufacturers published data should be consulted for precise filament connection details.
  • Flexible contacts are recommended for the RF connections to the magnetron to compensate for thermal expansions, eccentricities, and variation in the manufacturing dimensions of circuit components in tubes.
  • the spring-contact type of connectors is recommended for RF terminals having cylindrical contact surfaces.
  • a co pressable metal braid may be used for RF terminals having flat contact surfaces.
  • the magnetron tube When power is applied to the magnetron tube, as suggested above, there may be some motion of various parts of the tube and their as- sociated circuits due to thermal expansion. In order that no undue stress be placed on the ceramic-metal seals of the tube, the elec ⁇ trical connectors to the tube should be flexible.
  • the connecting leads and hoses should be installed so that a slack portion thereof have sufficient clearings to prevent arcing to the tube or circuit parts, and where applicable, leads should be dressed to minimize feedback capacity.
  • the liquid cooling system includes, in general, a source of cooling liquid, a liquid regeneration loop, flow regula ⁇ tors, gages, a feedpipe system which carries liquid to the input and output lines 102 and 104 of the tube, and flow switches for inter ⁇ locking the tube power supplies with the liquid flow through the coolant courses. It is essential that coolant tubing between the cooling system piping and each of the high-voltage cooling connectors has good elec ⁇ trical insulating qualities and is of sufficient length to minimize leakage currents and/or electrolysis effects.
  • the coolant's piping system is arranged so that the direction of coolant flow through the various coolant connections of the magnetron is in accordance with the manufacturer's published data. Series or parallel arrangement of the coolant ducts is per ⁇ missible, so long as the specified flow, pressure , and outlet tempera- ture ratings are observed.
  • coolant-flow interlocks which open the primary circuits of the power supplies, with the exception of an electronic high-vac ⁇ uum pump supply (not shown), when the flow through any element is insufficient or ceases.
  • an electronic high-vac ⁇ uum pump supply not shown
  • the interlock system be designed such that it is neces- sary to return the heater or filament voltage to zero and to restart energization of the magnetron in the normal manner.
  • coolant flow must be initiated before application of any voltages to the mag ⁇ netron, and preferably should continue for several seconds after re ⁇ moval of all voltages.
  • the manufacturer's published data should be consulted for selecting the appropriately sized re ⁇ generating components.
  • the quality of the cooling fluid is maintained by the regenera ⁇ tion loop only when the fluid system is in operation.
  • air begins to enter the fluid which triggers a sequence of contamination (both chemical and bacterial). Therefore, precaution should be taken to circulate the cooling fluid during the inoperative period of the electronic system by use of an auxiliary pump. Following prolonged shut-downs, the fluid system should be put in full operation for some time before energization of the magne ⁇ trons to eliminate any accumulated contamination.
  • coolant For availability and ease in handling, water is recommended as the coolant wherever possible.
  • coolants such as a mixture of ethylene, glycol and water, may be required in speciali ⁇ zed applications where there exists a hazard of coolant freezing.
  • plate-water-column water path between plate and ground
  • plate-water-column water path between plate and ground
  • a suggested liquid regeneration loop as shown in Figure 9 to in ⁇ clude a contamination detector 122, which may be based on coolant resistivity, pH, or other suitable factors, and oxygen removal and resin demineralizer 124, a mixed bed de ineralizer 126, a sub-micron filter 128, and an organic-removal and resin demineralizer 130, each connected in series between a fluid storage tank, a system pump and the main system plumbing.
  • OMPI electronic circuits or electronic "crowbars" to bypass the fault current until mechanical circuit breakers are opened.
  • These "crow ⁇ bar” circuits may employ a controlled gas tube, such as a thyratron or ignitron, depending upon the amount of energy to be handled.
  • the shielding building 90 in which the thawing operation takes place is provided with a protective housing 132 for operative personnel.
  • the housing 132 shown in Figure 4, houses the master microprocessor module 61, and is arranged such that the opera ⁇ tor can oversee the thawing process via a radiation resistant trans- parent screen 134.
  • the protective housing 132 is designed with inter ⁇ locks (not shown) so that personnel cannot possibly come in contact with any high-potential point in the electrical system.
  • inter ⁇ locks break the primary circuit of the high-voltage supplies and dis ⁇ charge high-voltage capacitors when any gate or door on a protective housing is opened, and prevent the closing of the primary circuit until any such door, for example, entrance doors to the enclosed housing 90, are locked.
  • the shielding hood 10 is hydraulically positioned over the top rail 54 by limit sensors, and the hood is then hydraulically lowered.
  • a series of linear motion transducers or similar devices placed around the peri ⁇ meter of the hood 10 terminate the hood travel and ensure proper contact pressure between the hood peripheral shielding 52 and the container mating surface 54.
  • the dedi ⁇ cated controller activates the hood exhaust fan 44, and energizes the methane detector 46 built into the exhaust plenum 40.
  • the microprocessor activates the cooling water system to the electromagnets of the magnetrons 20.
  • the RF leakage detectors 99 placed around the exterior of the building 90 are nextly energized. When these units are shown to be working, preheat amperage is applied to the magnetron anode 106. When 70% of full anode amperage is achieved, anode air heaters (not shown) which had previously been energized at the same time of the activation of the cooling system, are then deenergized.
  • a microprocessor 61 nextly energizes the electromagnet coils 112 of the magnetrons 20 and the power supply 116 then brings the magne- trons up to 100% operation by applying proper anode amperage and plate voltage. Thereafter the magnetrons 20 operate for a predeter ⁇ mined period as programmed by the operator into the microprocessor 61.
  • the magnetron plate voltage is reduced to zero, and the anode amperage is brought back to preheat level and the electromagnet coil 112 is deenergized.
  • the microprocessor 61 then activates the resistance heater in the anode air temperature control system and begins the time-out sequence of the cooling water in the cooling system.
  • the anode am- perage is nextly dropped to zero, and the laser personnel detection system is deenergized.
  • the hood exhaust system is deactivated, as is the methane de ⁇ tector, by the microprocessor.
  • the hood 10 is then hydraulically raised to its stand-by position.
  • the output from the RF leakage detector 99,having been continu ⁇ ously scanned since activation, are now turned off if no excessive radiation has been detected.
  • the microprocessor 61 interrupts the anode plate voltage of each magnetron, and shuts the magnetrons down in a proper sequence.
  • another dedicated controller opens the exit doors of the building 90, whereupon the car 12 is propelled outside the build ⁇ ing 90 for off-loading of the thawed materials 18, e.g. coal.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Constitution Of High-Frequency Heating (AREA)
EP80900815A 1979-04-09 1980-10-23 Apparat und verfahren zum auftauen von in gondel-containern gelagerten materialien Withdrawn EP0026784A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US28601 1979-04-09
US06/028,601 US4256944A (en) 1979-04-09 1979-04-09 Apparatus and method for thawing materials stored in gondola-type containers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0026784A1 true EP0026784A1 (de) 1981-04-15

Family

ID=21844353

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80900815A Withdrawn EP0026784A1 (de) 1979-04-09 1980-10-23 Apparat und verfahren zum auftauen von in gondel-containern gelagerten materialien

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US4256944A (de)
EP (1) EP0026784A1 (de)
WO (1) WO1980002220A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH648230A5 (fr) * 1982-06-23 1985-03-15 Charmilles Sa Ateliers Procede pour surveiller les conditions d'usinage au cours du decoupage par decharges electriques erosives.
AU1332983A (en) * 1983-01-25 1984-08-15 Brandon Deryck Apparatus and method for heating, thawing and/or demoisturizing materials and/or objects
CA1212425A (en) * 1983-07-20 1986-10-07 Howard R. Lahti System for heating materials with electromagnetic waves
JPS6181311A (ja) * 1984-09-28 1986-04-24 Ngk Insulators Ltd 真空マイクロ波乾燥装置における搬送装置
JPS63501535A (ja) * 1985-08-29 1988-06-09 エレクトロマグネチック・エナジ−・コ−ポレ−ション 高粘性材料の粘度を低減する方法並びに装置
US4869068A (en) * 1988-02-29 1989-09-26 Spectra-Physics, Inc. Heat transfer strap
US4940865A (en) * 1988-10-25 1990-07-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy Microwave heating apparatus and method
US5968401A (en) * 1989-09-18 1999-10-19 Roy; Stephen Microwave radiation insect exterminator
SE465740B (sv) * 1990-03-08 1991-10-21 Gisip Innovations Ab Saett foer torkning av limfogar
US5134266A (en) * 1990-10-26 1992-07-28 Peppard Dennis L Mobile deicing apparatus
FR2672764B1 (fr) * 1991-02-12 1993-12-31 Patrice Derick Coffret fondeur-chauffeur-secheur de mineraux par ondes electromagnetiques.
US5296666A (en) * 1992-05-04 1994-03-22 The Pennsylvania Research Corporation Microwave heating apparatus having two cavities and method of using the same
SE502580C2 (sv) * 1994-03-02 1995-11-13 Leif Goesta Zettergren Förfarande och anordning för mögelsanering och torkning av fuktiga byggnadsdelar
JP3919798B2 (ja) * 2005-06-28 2007-05-30 シャープ株式会社 洗濯乾燥機
US7145118B1 (en) * 2005-08-22 2006-12-05 Ming-Jing Wu Microwave oven protective circuit arrangement
CA2765878A1 (en) * 2008-06-19 2009-12-23 Microcoal, Inc. System and method for treatment of materials by electromagnetic radiation (emr)
KR101385101B1 (ko) * 2008-06-27 2014-04-15 동부대우전자 주식회사 가스식 건조기의 밸브 제어 방법
US9126238B2 (en) 2010-12-15 2015-09-08 Diane Quinn Vehicle snow removal system
US9184593B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-11-10 Microcoal Inc. Method and apparatus for storing power from irregular and poorly controlled power sources
GB201213402D0 (en) * 2012-07-27 2012-09-12 E2V Tech Uk Ltd High frequency energy generator systems
CN103152890B (zh) * 2013-02-01 2014-11-05 湖南省中晟热能科技有限公司 一种煤炭及矿石微波解冻装置
CN104918346A (zh) * 2015-05-25 2015-09-16 中冶天工集团有限公司 利用微波解冻钢厂综合料场冬季进场原料的装置
US9810480B2 (en) 2015-06-12 2017-11-07 Targeted Microwave Solutions Inc. Methods and apparatus for electromagnetic processing of phyllosilicate minerals
MX2018003792A (es) * 2015-10-01 2018-06-22 915 Labs Llc Arreglo de articulos en un portador para calentamiento por microondas.
EP3520570A4 (de) 2016-10-03 2020-06-24 915 Labs, LLC Förderbandträger für mikrowellenheizen
USD922457S1 (en) * 2019-11-28 2021-06-15 NextLeaf Solutions Ltd. Skid and frame set
USD923069S1 (en) * 2020-01-09 2021-06-22 NextLeaf Solutions Ltd. Skid, frame, and vessel set
CN114687721B (zh) * 2022-03-15 2022-12-20 中南大学 一种高瓦斯矿井煤层微波脱气方法

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2500752A (en) * 1946-06-01 1950-03-14 Gen Electric High-frequency dielectric heating in a resonant chamber
GB1092861A (en) 1963-06-19 1967-11-29 John Crawford Method and apparatus for heat treating coal
US3560347A (en) * 1964-08-04 1971-02-02 Edward M Knapp Apparatus for carbonizing carbonaceous materials using microwave energy
US3505490A (en) * 1966-10-07 1970-04-07 Raytheon Co Apparatus for thawing of frozen materials
US3463310A (en) * 1968-02-27 1969-08-26 Us Interior Separation method
US3601448A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-08-24 Gas Dev Corp Method for fracturing concrete and other materials with microwave energy
US3569657A (en) * 1969-09-16 1971-03-09 Melvin L Levinson Method of processing and transporting articles
US3800858A (en) * 1972-01-20 1974-04-02 Dorn Co V Railway car thawing system
US3992287A (en) * 1975-02-27 1976-11-16 Rhys Hugh R Oil shale sorting
US4065361A (en) * 1976-09-10 1977-12-27 Lester Hanson Apparatus and system for processing oil shale

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8002220A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1980002220A1 (en) 1980-10-16
US4256944A (en) 1981-03-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4256944A (en) Apparatus and method for thawing materials stored in gondola-type containers
EP0618850B1 (de) Methode und system zur kontrolle eines materialabtragprozesses; wobei man die spektralausstrahlung analysiert
JP6293948B2 (ja) 移動式メンテナンス倉庫
US9032979B2 (en) Cleaning system having heated cleaning enclosure for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles
US5782253A (en) System for removing a coating from a substrate
JPH0145039B2 (de)
WO1999004606A9 (en) Compact microwave downstream plasma system
US6195505B1 (en) Method and apparatus for photopyrolitically removing a contaminant
CN111969485B (zh) 电力架空高压线接头发热缺陷自动处理装置的运用方式
GB697790A (en) Improvements in and relating to a method and apparatus for manufacturing electronic vacuum tubes and the like
CA1142235A (en) Apparatus and method for thawing materials stored in gondola-type containers
US3756915A (en) Rnals device for detecting flaws on nuclear reactor inner surfaces and inte
EP0061819B1 (de) Lagerungseinrichtung für Kernbrennstoff
US3017622A (en) Oscillatory circuit interlock of horizontal coke oven batteries
JP2015010947A (ja) 放射性物質の処理設備
AU717883B2 (en) Induction heating apparatus
US3581335A (en) Apparatus for washing railway vehicles
KR890005296B1 (ko) 원자로의 연료봉 검사장치
CN108971127A (zh) 光纤周转盒专用清洗及干燥设备
US20050082283A1 (en) Microwave dryer
US3304241A (en) Safety control apparatus for coke oven batteries
CN211771089U (zh) 一种波导保护装置及微波热解设备
CN208758214U (zh) 光纤周转盒专用清洗及干燥设备
RU2013337C1 (ru) Устройство для разогрева материалов
CN110833360A (zh) 一种自动除障物流运输用智能机器人

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT CH DE FR GB LU NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19810406